Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-06-24


twenty shops in New York and itssub-
urbs, says the New York Evening Sun.
1t is estimated that 20.Soo ounces
OF gold are consumed annually here in
making gold leaf. Gold leaf can be
beaten so thin that it will take 1920
leaves to equal the thickness of the
sheet upon which this paper is printed.
An ounce can be beaten down to z, 500
leaves, 1913 inches square.
At an establish ment in Hudson
treet reporter was tod that thegold
is bought of brokers IN small ingots,
which are melted into bars about a
quarter OF an inch thick. These are
rolled into n ribbon as thick as note
paper. After passing through the
hands OF the beaters it isput in books,
interleaved with MANILA tissue, and
twenty books are put i'll q package.
The ordinary sells for 81 u package,
and the best 81. soto 7.75. No dross
comes from the gold as it is beaten,
but there are ragged edges that drop
off. The leaf is used by guilders, book
binders, dentists and sign painters.
The wages of gold beaters are $11 n
week. Piece hand gets So q beating.
A good one can possibly do two a
week, aud as many ash nine In a month
have been done. Extra is paid if the
workman beats the gold below 5 grains
to book. Some can 90 to 4 1-2 and
even grains per book.
4 Ia, a
er in Broome street was asked.
at is beaten to one three hundred
thousandth OF an inch thick at five
grains to the book. II it gets down
to tour grains it is one three hundred
and-sixty thousandth of an inch.
The New York system employs men
only, with girls to do the cutting. The
German system employs children OF
eight or nine, which system Hastings,
of Philadelphia, tried to introduce here,
but his workmen struck. and he lost
his lead. On that system men do the
beating and girls do the printing and
filling"
"How is the gold beaten?"
at is beaten in moulds made i'll
London from the intestines OF cows,
cleaned and vanished with secret
preparation manufactured by Puck
ridge & Nephew, of London. The
skins are put in packages of 900 skins
each, and three OF these moulds go to
q beating"
"How M UGH gold is there in a beat
ing?"
FIFTY pennyweight in beating.
The ribbon OF solid gold is divided in
to one hundred and seventy or one
hundred and eighty pieces, each about
an inch square. These are put into
a clutch made OF French paper four
inches square. That is beaten until
we get the gold to the edges. 1t is
handled with pincers at that time.
1t is beaten half an hour. The pieces
are then piled twenty on top OF each
other. They are then cut in four and
doubled over, making seven hundred
and twenty. Ttey are then put in a
'schoder,' or finer mould cut down.
We fill the schoder with those leaves in
the middle, and break it out to the
edges. We beat it about two hours,
until We draw about ten pennyweishts
ffthe schoder."
"Does it have to be kept dry?"
ave haveto keep the windows shut;
but the clutches, schoders, and mould
take up so much moisture that they
have to be put in hot mould to
press the moisture out"
"Does that finish it?"
ooh, no. The leaves are cut again
into four with a tool called q wagon,
making 1850, but the moulds hold
only 2,7OO The mouds are beaten
four hours, at the end OF each hour
there being what is called close,
when they are heated. Then the beat
er is through with it and the cutter
takes it,. This is the only work done
by the girls in New York. They can
cut from 80 to ga books day at 2
1-2 cents q book. The leaf when it
gets in book is SO thin that it is
handled only with the BREATH"
"How is the work tested?"
"Only with the eye. There is no
rule about the business, but it is pure
ly matter of skill and Judgment
The best is the kind used on glass,
which shows all imperfections."
81 notice goldbeaters usually work
in easements. Why is that?"
"a firmer blow can be given. II on
the first story, there is a jar, which de-
teriorates the quality"
"ls there any adulteration in the
business?"
"The Germans beat what is called a
metal leaf with an alloy. 1t is sold
very cheap. 1t is the oleomargarine
of gold leaf, and will tarnish. Much
Of 1t Is used by bookbinders. :"
L I Al l.
ut is very ancient. 1t is mentioned
in the Bible. Gold leaf was used on
Solomon's temple. The Chinese beat
gold leaf, but it cannot compare in
quality with American leaf. Some OF
the Cinnamon had trouble with their
employers, but they soon ended it.,
They got their employer into their
lodge room, and then one after
another took a big bite out of his
flesh"
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